INLAND WATERWAYS AND FUNDING

Early day motion 233, tabled 25 November 2009 by Bob Laxton (Labour). Signed by 61 members.

That this House notes that the UK inland waterways are a national treasure which have significantly improved in recent years; shares the Government's view that the waterways nevertheless need new investment; further notes that nearly half of the money that British Waterways needs to maintain the network comes from its property portfolio; further notes that funding cuts in British Waterways' grant-in-aid from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs mean that the shortfall British Waterways faces in the money it needs to properly fund its waterways is increased to about £40 million; believes the inland waterways should be treated as a national park; supports the Save our System 2010 campaign launched by the Inland Waterways Association; and further notes that the funding shortfall should be reinstated and the property portfolio protected so that it can provide a secure funding stream to ensure that the inland waterways can continue to be enjoyed by millions in years to come.

Signatures by party: Labour 38, Liberal Democrat 9, Conservative 8, DUP 3, Independent 2, Independent Labour 1.